Thursday, February 26, 2009

Musician Inventors Play to Win at Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Six finalists of the Guthman Musical Instrument Competition will perform Saturday at Georgia Tech in the hopes of winning $5,000. Doors open at 11:00 a.m. for an open-house showcase of the Center for Music Technology's recent work and performances begin at 1 p.m.

Judges for the competition include Eran Egozy, co-founder and chief technical officer of Cambridge-based video game development company Harmonix Music Systems, which developed Guitar Hero(R) and Rock Band(R); digital music expert Eliot Van Buskirk, an author, columnist and blogger who writes for the award-winning technology magazine Wired; and a faculty representative from the Center for Music Technology, whose researchers are developing new ways to compose, listen to and perform music.

"We are in an exciting era where the general public is starting to see how technology can enhance participation in music performance and music creation," Egozy said. "I think this competition is coming at a great time. It will encourage and reward innovation in this rapidly changing field."

"Inventors, composers, creators, and designers of all ages and affiliations are encouraged to attend the performances and submit their ideas in future competitions," said Tech Music Department director Frank Clark. "We expect the Guthman Musical Instrument Competition will deliver paradigms of expression and new modes of performance to both public and academic realms year after year."

For the past ten years Georgia Tech alumnus Richard Guthman has sponsored a national keyboard competition in honor of his musical wife Margaret, fostering an array of talent among more than 500 competitors. The competition's new direction will continue and enhance the family's dedication to music and young musicians, and reflects Tech's Music Department's role as a center of innovation.

The Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology is located at 840 McMillan St. on Georgia Tech campus in Atlanta. For details on the competition call 404-385-7642.